Potyviruses are geographically widespread and infect numerous crops causing diseases that threaten food security. They reduce gross yields and, by lowering product quality, marketable yields. We want to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying potyviral replication, viral defense against RNA silencing, translation and encapsidation and study these questions with potato virus (PVA) in the host plant Nicotiana benthamiana.
We are part of the Viikki Plant Science Centre.